Corpo Iluminado

Cristina Branco | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 23, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca U.S.
• ASIN: B00005BG8I
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #83,913 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #25 in Music > World Music > Europe > Continental Europe > Portugal

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

There are few forms of music more romantic, sentimental, and beautiful than the Portuguese folk style known as fado, which literally means "fate." Fado offers an often transcendent mix of traditional Portuguese love poems, acoustic Mediterranean-style music, and diva-like vocalists. Amália Rodrigues was fado's greatest, most defining voice, and now Cristina Branco has turned into one of the music's most promising performers after two excellent albums on small independent labels in the last three years. This album was released by Decca, and, as always, you don't need to understand Portuguese to get the gist of the music. Branco's quivering vibrato and sweeping intonation easily convey the often tragic spirit of love that fuels these songs. But even as she is placed on center stage, Branco is supported by remarkable Portuguese guitarist Custodio Castelo, the leader and main soloist of the stringed trio that supports her on most of the album's 16 songs. Here's a chance to hear a remarkably passionate music performed by one of its leading exponents. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EMOTION, POWERAND STUNNING MUSICIANSHIP, May 23, 2003

By 

Larry L. Looney (Austin, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Corpo Iluminado (Audio CD)

I have to respectfully disagree with a reviewer below who feels that the musicianship and arrangements on this recording are effectively `preventing the musicians from expressing the feeling that makes the fado a special art form'. On the contrary, I think that the beautiful arrangements, so masterfully executed by Cristina's accompanists, rather than getting in the way, frame her voice and delivery with grace and perfection - and her voice, in my opinion, is one of the most expressive you're likely to come across. Despite the dexterity and technique displayed by the players here, the arrangements are actually fairly unadorned - there's no overdubbing that I can hear, just two incredible musicians pouring their souls into their playing, supporting and augmenting and complementing Cristina's lovely voice. One of the editorial reviews makes mention of Dulce Pontes - a stunningly talented artist who has her roots in fado, but has taken her art beyond the genre's limitations. I think Cristina's work is the closest to the traditional form and delivery of fado of any of its contemporary practitioners.

There is beautiful, expressive poetry to be found in these songs - sung in Portuguese, but with French and English translations thoughtfully provided. Cristina draws her program from various sources, including one poem by Fernando Pessoa, Portugal's (literally) multi-faceted gift to the world [check out Bévinda's album of settings of his poetry, PESSOA EM PESSOAS - it's stunning]. Cristina's voice is simply breathtaking - its power and beauty and emotion will draw you in immediately, and when the disc is over, you'll be wishing it could go on and on (just hit the repeat button, as if you'll need any encouragement...). Custodio Castelo's Portuguese guitar is delicate, precise, and never overbearing - he also wrote several of the settings. The bass guitar of Fernando Maia is equally tasteful - the bass guitars being the album's only concession to electricity. These two musicians accompany Cristina on most of the selections - `Tu tens de me acountecer' features the song's composers, José Fontes Rocha (Portuguese guitar) and Jorge Fernando (guitar), along with Joel Pina (bass guitar); `Portos', an instrumental composed by Castelo, showcases Carlos Manual Proença (guitar) and Marino de Freitas (bass guitar); and `Locals' offers us its composer, Miguel Carvalhinho (classical guitar).

This is simply an incredibly beautiful, thoroughly emotional, and masterfully performed album - the recording quality is crystal clear, an advantage unavailable to some of the `classic' performers of fado from years gone by. Imagine what Amalia Rodrigues would sound like with contemporary recording technology. We're blessed to have an artist of Cristina's caliber who is so dedicated to preserving and performing the genre - as well as singers such as Dulce Pontes and Bévinda Ferreire who are continually pushing the fado of their roots beyond its boundaries, into new and exciting territories.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vibrant - Passionate, July 5, 2002

By 

Cate Gable (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Corpo Iluminado (Audio CD)

A brilliant fado duo of Cristina Branco's lush voice and the exquisite guitar of Custodio Castelo. My particular favorites are the simple, folk-like melody of Aconteceu (It Happened) about a love quietly growing; and the lilting Meu Amor e Marinheiro (My Beloved is a sailor); the introductory guitar rif is a classic - haunting and beautifully articulated. The lyrics are in Portuguese, French, and English. Most read like poetry.

Put on the headphones and prepare to have your heart broken.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EMOTION, POWERAND STUNNING MUSICIANSHIP, May 23, 2003

By 

Larry L. Looney (Austin, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Corpo Iluminado (Audio CD)

I have to respectfully disagree with a reviewer below who feels that the musicianship and arrangements on this recording are effectively `preventing the musicians from expressing the feeling that makes the fado a special art form'. On the contrary, I think that the beautiful arrangements, so masterfully executed by Cristina's accompanists, rather than getting in the way, frame her voice and delivery with grace and perfection - and her voice, in my opinion, is one of the most expressive you're likely to come across. Despite the dexterity and technique displayed by the players here, the arrangements are actually fairly unadorned - there's no overdubbing that I can hear, just two incredible musicians pouring their souls into their playing, supporting and augmenting and complementing Cristina's lovely voice. One of the editorial reviews makes mention of Dulce Pontes - a stunningly talented artist who has her roots in fado, but has taken her art beyond the genre's limitations. I think Cristina's work is the closest to the traditional form and delivery of fado of any of its contemporary practitioners.

There is beautiful, expressive poetry to be found in these songs - sung in Portuguese, but with French and English translations thoughtfully provided. Cristina draws her program from various sources, including one poem by Fernando Pessoa, Portugal's (literally) multi-faceted gift to the world [check out Bévinda's album of settings of his poetry, PESSOA EM PESSOAS - it's stunning]. Cristina's voice is simply breathtaking - its power and beauty and emotion will draw you in immediately, and when the disc is over, you'll be wishing it could go on and on (just hit the repeat button, as if you'll need any encouragement...). Custodio Castelo's Portuguese guitar is delicate, precise, and never overbearing - he also wrote several of the settings. The bass guitar of Fernando Maia is equally tasteful - the bass guitars being the album's only concession to electricity. These two musicians accompany Cristina on most of the selections - `Tu tens de me acountecer' features the song's composers, José Fontes Rocha (Portuguese guitar) and Jorge Fernando (guitar), along with Joel Pina (bass guitar); `Portos', an instrumental composed by Castelo, showcases Carlos Manual Proença (guitar) and Marino de Freitas (bass guitar); and `Locals' offers us its composer, Miguel Carvalhinho (classical guitar).

This is simply an incredibly beautiful, thoroughly emotional, and masterfully performed album - the recording quality is crystal clear, an advantage unavailable to some of the `classic' performers of fado from years gone by. Imagine what Amalia Rodrigues would sound like with contemporary recording technology. We're blessed to have an artist of Cristina's caliber who is so dedicated to preserving and performing the genre - as well as singers such as Dulce Pontes and Bévinda Ferreire who are continually pushing the fado of their roots beyond its boundaries, into new and exciting territories.